title: Altered catecholamine synthesis and degradation in the epidermis of patients with atopic eczema.
abstract: Patients with atopic eczema have significantly higher norepinephrine levels in plasma than healthy controls. In addition, significantly higher levels of the essential cofactor (6R)-L-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (6BH4) were found in this patient group. Cell extracts from epidermal suction blister roofs revealed only half the normal activity of phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) together with a threefold induction of the norepinephrine-degrading enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). Taken together, these results support earlier observations of a defective catecholamine/adrenoceptor signal in patients with atopic eczema.
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Experimental Dermatology Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bradford, UK. K.Schallreuter@Bradford.ac.uk
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Schallreuter
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pittelkow
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Beazley
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Körner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ehrke
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Büttner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine